Costing $92 million, The 401-suite Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains Opens

Waterpark Staffed with nearly 100 Lifeguards

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. October 14, 2008

SCOTRUN, PA, October 26, 2005. Let the splashing begin! The 401-suite Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains officially opened today as beloved television legend Regis Philbin, government officials and Great Wolf Lodge executives turned on the indoor park's "water valve" during the opening ceremony. Lucky Barrett Elementary School children were the first to "soak up the fun" as a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket showered down on them. Others participating in the ceremony, attended by over 400 community members, media and VIPs, included: J. Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Robert Uguccioni, executive director of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau; Kim Schaefer, COO of Great Wolf Resorts; Dale McFarland, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge - The Poconos; and Chris Salerno, director of sales & marketing for Great Wolf Lodge - The Poconos.

"I'm a kid-at-heart and I know this is just the type of vacation spot the Northeast needs to bring families together and build new traditions," said Regis Philbin during the ceremony.

Commenting on the opening, Governor Edward G. Rendell said, "On behalf of all Pennsylvanians, I thank Great Wolf Resorts for building this state-of-the-art indoor waterpark and family resort in Pennsylvania." At a cost of $92 million, the project represents the largest development in the region in nearly three decades.

For further entertainment during the October 26 festivities, the Pocono Mountain East High School Band, one of only ten schools selected to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, performed, as did Troop I of the 104th Cavalry Color Guard.

Great Wolf Lodge is a four-story, log-sided resort set on a 95-acre site, encompassing 433,020 feet of construction. There is a choice of 10 suite configurations, including standard and premier layouts, such as the two-bedroom Grizzly Bear Suite which can sleep up to eight, the Loft Fireplace Suite, and children's themed suites including the Wolf Den, KidCabin and KidKamp, each complete with its own cozy private "room within a room" for kids.

Unlike many resorts, which are greatly impacted by seasonality, Great Wolf Lodge defies all weather by providing an experience that can be enjoyed equally any time of the year. At the center of this experience - and of the resort itself - is the main attraction - Bear Track Landing. A colossal, 90-foot tall, 78,000 square-foot indoor waterpark complex unlike anything seen before in the region, Bear Track Landing greets guests with Fort Mackenzie, a 12-level treehouse waterfort interconnected with suspension bridges, cargo nets, web crawls and over 60 guest activated water effects. A nearly 1,000-gallon tipping bucket suspended at the top offers guests a thrilling introduction to one of the world's largest indoor waterparks.

Completely under one roof, the waterpark is exclusive to resort guests to ensure the safest, cleanest, most user-friendly experience possible. It features 11 different waterslides, including the Hydro Plunge family water rollercoaster in which guests travel uphill in a ride that totals 727 ft. and features a breathtaking 52 ft. vertical drop, and six pools including a massive indoor wave pool, recreation pool, lazy river and a zero-depth entry pool for even the youngest water-fans. The waterpark is staffed by nearly 100 lifeguards nationally certified by Ellis & Associates, a leading aquatic safety training company.

Other amenities include Northern Lights Arcade, a 6,000 square-foot arcade with ticket redemption center; Iron Horse Fitness Room; and Cub Club - the children's frequent guest club where the "Ambassador of Fun" leads activities, arts and crafts. In addition, guests and the general public can enjoy Camp Critter Bar & Grille, a themed family restaurant and bar; The Loose Moose Cottage, a gourmet buffet; Pizza Hut Express; Bear Claw Cafe confectionery; Buckhorn Exchange gift emporium; Elements - an Aveda(R) Concept Spa; and more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space, including a tiered, audio/visual symposium.